Shears



May 24, 1932. H W. CLARK 1,860,316

SHEARS Filed Dec. 27, 192,9

` nun INVENTOR Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oi-FlcE-"yj-H HAROLD V7. CLARK, 0F ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIG'NOR TO THE ALLIANCEY MANUFACTUR- "i ING COMPANY, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OFOHIO n K sHEAns Applcation'led December 27,` 1929. `Serial No. 416,765.

My invention relates to shears and, in particular, to shears for cutting grass in places which are inaccessible to the ordinary type of mower. Y

Numerous types of grass shears have heretofore been proposed but certain disadvantages have been met with in the use of known types. One such disadvantage is that the blades of known types of shears are not so arranged that their cutting edges cooperate properly on movement of the blades. Another is that movement of the blades is not positive but is somewhat erratic. Previous types of shears have also been characterized by complexity of the operating` parts and, therefore, have required frequent `repair and adjustment.

I overcome the foregoing disadvantages by providing a shear which is light in weight and has few moving parts connected by a simple mechanism. This mechanism effects a positive movement of the shear blade to the cutting position and likewise Vcauses the blade to return to its normal position. The blades are so arranged that their cutting edges always cooperate properly upon relative movement thereof.

According to the invention, I provide a stationary blade adapted to cooperate with a movable blade. The blades are supported from a frame which also carries a wheel. The wheel supports the shear and enables it to be readily moved along the ground. The wheel is provided with cam grooves and cooperating rollers are mounted on links which are connected to the moving blade. Movement of the shear along the ground thus causes the rotation of the wheel and the reciprocation of the connecting links due to the action of the cam grooves so that the moving blade is thereby oscillated. I provide grooves in both sides of the supporting wheel and displace the grooves relative to one another so that while one link is effective to oscillate the blade in one direction, .the other causes a reversal of the blade movement to return it to its opposed position.

For a complete understanding .of my in vention, reference is madeV to the accom` panying drawings illustrating a present pre-:

ferred embodiment of the invention.v` f

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sidefelevation, and

Fig.l 2 is a section along the lineII-QI-Ivv of Fig. 1.\

' Referring in detail .to the"drawings,v a`

Wheel 10 rotateson a shaft 11, journalledin a frame consisting of side members-12 and 13. The upper ends 0f the side'mem'bers' forma socket 14C for receivingthe end-of an operating handle `l5. A stationary shear blade 16l of substantially V`shape having cut! ting edges 17 and 18 is riveted to the side v members 12 and 13. A moving blade 19 having cutting edges 20 and 21 adaptedto cooperate respectively with the cuttingedges 18 and 17 `of the'stationary shear blade 16,

is pivotally supported on the blade 16 asby a rivet 22.

The fixed end of the blade 19 fis provided with lateral projections .23 and 24 to which reciprocating links 25 and 26 are-pivoted.` The links 25 and 26 are guided in their re-y ciprocation by the shaft 11, the links having slots near their ends through which the shaftv passes.

The links 25 and 26 are reciprocated.byv

means of rollers 27 and 28 rotatably secured thereto. The rollersj27'and'28 ride* in cam grooves 29`and 30 formed von opposite faces of thewheel 10. The outline of the cam' grooves may beobserved in Fig. 1 Awhich also shows that the grooves are displaced from each other circumferentially of the wheel so that, when the link 25 is withdrawn, for example, the link 26 will be extended to actuate the blade 19 to the position shown in Fig. 2.

The shear may be operated by placing the wheel 10 on the ground and pushing the shear in the direction of the material which it is desired to cut. As the shear advances the wheel 10 is turned in the direction of the arrow 31 and the rollers 27 and28 are reciprocated alternately to shift the links 25 and 26 back and forth whereby the blade 19 is oscillated. The movement of the blade 19 causes alternate engagement of the cutting edges 18-20 and 17-21 whereby the grass between the blades is sheared.

v A' 'A 1,860,316

l The advantages of the structure described Will be obvious. In the first place, the movement of the blade k19 in both directions is the result of a positive driving mechanism and 5 there is no possibility that the blade Will fail Vto return to its open position. The 4shear is Y n of small size and light Weight so that it may f be readily handled and can be employed even in very' close quarters. The moving blade has ,10 a bearing of substantial area on the fixed or stationary blade so that the tendency of the blades to depart from cutting alignment is re-V duced to minimum.k The vsimplicity of thev operating mechanism is such that it requires 15 no adjustment and, because 'of the few moving parts and the lslight Wear thereof, the device has along useful life. v Y

AlthoughfI have disclosed a single embodif ment of the invention, I do not .intend to be 2Q limited to the/speciiicldetails thereof since the inventiony mayY obviously be practiced in a lvariety of Vforms other than that shown. For this reason, any changes Which do not depart from the spirit of the invention may be made gwithin the scope of the following claims. vIclaimz l. A shear comprising a frame, a stationary blade secured thereto, a, movable vblade pivoted on said stationary blade, a shaftfin said 3.0" frame, awheel journaled'thereon, having cam recesses onits opposite sides, links connected to said movable blade having slots traversed `by said shaft, and rollers substantially at the middle of said links Aengaging said recesses 35 for oscillating said movable blade.l Y

Y 2. Afshear comprising a frame, a stationary bladersecured thereto, a movable blade pivotedon said stationary blade, va shaft in said frame, a Wheel j ournaled thereon, having cam recesses on its oppositeV sides, unitary straight links pivoted to said movable blade and slidably engaging said shaft for substantially vlongitudinalreciprocation, and rollers on said links-engaging said cam recesses for 45' oscillating said movable blade.

In testimony `whereof I have hereuntoy set my hand. c c l c vHAROLD W.V CLARK. so v Y y q l l 56. Y 

